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Hesi RN dosage calculation WGU
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Showing 10 questions, Sign in for moreA client with HIV begins active labor at 38 weeks gestation and receives a prescription for zidovudine 2 mg/kg IV, to be administered over 1 hour. The client weighs 185 lb. Based on the client's weight, how many mg should the nurse prepare to administer? (Enter numerical value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest whole number.)
Explanation
Here's how to calculate the total zidovudine dosage (mg) the nurse should prepare to administer:
1. Convert client weight to kilograms (kg):
Weight (kg) = Weight (lbs) / 2.205
Weight (kg) = 185 lbs / 2.205
Weight (kg) ≈ 84.0 kg (round to one decimal place for better accuracy in calculation)
2. Calculate the total zidovudine dose based on weight and prescribed dosage:
Dose (mg) = Prescribed dose (mg/kg) x Weight (kg)
Dose (mg) = 2 mg/kg x 84.0 kg
Dose (mg) = 168 mg (round to nearest whole number as requested)
Therefore, the nurse should prepare to administer 168 mg of zidovudine.
The healthcare provider prescribes epoetin alfa 50 units/kg subcutaneously (SubQ) twice daily (BID) for a client who weighs 126 pounds. The available vial is labeled, "10,000 Units/mL. Based on the client's weight, how many milliliters should the nurse administer? (Enter numerical value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest hundredth.)
Explanation
Here's how to calculate the volume (mL) of epoetin alfa the nurse should administer for one dose:
1. Convert client weight to kilograms (kg):
Weight (kg) = Weight (pounds) / 2.205
Weight (kg) = 126 pounds / 2.205
Weight (kg) = 57.14 kg (round to two decimal places for better accuracy)
2. Calculate the dose per administration based on weight and prescribed dose:
Dose per administration (units) = Prescribed dose (units/kg) x Weight (kg)
Dose per administration (units) = 50 units/kg x 57.14 kg
Dose per administration (units) = 2857 units (round to nearest whole number)
3. Calculate the volume (mL) to administer for one dose:
Volume (mL) = Dose per administration (units) / Concentration (units/mL)
Concentration (units/mL) = 10,000 units/mL (given on the vial label)
Volume (mL) = 2857 units / 10,000 units/mL
Volume (mL) = 0.2857 mL (round to nearest hundredth as requested)
Therefore, the nurse should administer approximately 0.29 mL of epoetin alfa for one dose.
A premature infant with a birth weight of 1,200 grams is receiving beractant 120 mg intratracheal every 6 hours. Single use vials of beractant are labeled, "100 mg/4 mL." How many mL should the nurse administer? (Enter the numerical value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.)
Explanation
The vial is labeled as “100 mg per 4 mL.”
This means that each mL contains 25 mg of the medication (100 mg / 4 mL = 25 mg/mL).
The nurse needs to administer 120 mg of the medication.
To find out how many mL this is, we divide the dose by the concentration:
Volume in mL = 120 mg / 25 mg/mL = 4.8 mL
If rounding is required to the nearest tenth, the nurse should administer 4.8 mL of the medication.
The healthcare provider prescribes 2 L of 5% dextrose in water (D,W) IV to infuse in 24 hours. The IV administration set delivers 15 gtt/mL. How many gtt/min should the nurse regulate the infusion? (Enter numerical value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest whole number.)
Explanation
Here's how to calculate the infusion rate (gtt/min) for the nurse to regulate:
1. We know:
Total volume of D5W solution: 2 L (liters)
Infusion time: 24 hours
IV administration set gtt/mL: 15 gtt/mL
2. We need to find the infusion rate in gtt/min.
Steps:
a. Convert liters to milliliters (mL) for better calculation:
1 liter = 1000 mL
Total volume (mL) = 2 L * 1000 mL/L
Total volume (mL) = 2000 mL
b. Convert infusion time from hours to minutes:
Infusion time (minutes) = Infusion time (hours) x Minutes per hour
Infusion time (minutes) = 24 hours * 60 minutes/hour
Infusion time (minutes) = 1440 minutes
c. Calculate the total volume of solution to be infused per minute:
Volume rate (mL/min) = Total volume (mL) / Infusion time (minutes)
Volume rate (mL/min) = 2000 mL / 1440 minutes
Volume rate (mL/min) = 1.389 mL/min (round to nearest hundredth)
d. Finally, calculate the infusion rate in gtt/min:
Infusion rate (gtt/min) = Volume rate (mL/min) x gtt/mL
Infusion rate (gtt/min) = 1.389 mL/min * 15 gtt/mL
Infusion rate (gtt/min) = 20.835 gtt/min (round to nearest whole number as requested)
Therefore, the nurse should regulate the infusion at approximately 21 gtt/min
The healthcare provider prescribes dobutamine 6 mcg/kg/min IV for a client who weighs 140 pounds. The IV bag contains dobutamine 250 mg in 250 mL dextrose 5% in water (DW). How many mL/hr should the nurse program the infusion pump to deliver? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.)
Explanation
First, let’s convert the client’s weight from pounds to kilograms since the dosage is prescribed in mcg/kg/min. We know that 1 kg is approximately 2.2 lbs. So,
Weightinkg = 140lbs/2.2 ​≈ 63.64kg
The prescribed dose is 6 mcg/kg/min. Therefore, the total dose for this client per minute would be:
Doseperminute=6mcg/kg/min×63.64kg = 381.84mcg/min
We need to convert this to mcg/hr since we want the rate in mL/hr and our final concentration is in mcg/mL. There are 60 minutes in an hour, so:
Doseperhour = 381.84mcg/min×60 = 22910.4mcg/hr
The IV bag contains 250 mg of dobutamine in 250 mL of solution. This is equivalent to 250,000 mcg in 250 mL, or 1000 mcg/mL.
Finally, we can find the rate in mL/hr by dividing the dose per hour by the concentration:
RateinmL/hr = 22910.4mcg/hr / 1000mcg/mL ​ = 22.91mL/hr
If rounding is required to the nearest tenth, the nurse should program the infusion pump to deliver 22.9 mL/hr.
A client receives a prescription for oxytocin 2 milliunits/min intravenously (IV) for labor augmentation. The IV bag contains oxytocin 20 units in lactated Ringer's 1 liter. How many mL/hour should the nurse program the infusion pump to deliver? (Enter numerical value only.)
Explanation
Here's why the answer is closer to 6 mL/hour and not 6000 mL/hour:
Incorrect conversion factor: In the previous calculation, a conversion factor of 60 minutes/hour was used twice. This resulted in a significant inflation of the volume.
Milliunits vs. milliliters: The desired dose rate is given in milliunits/minute (2 milliunits/min), and the concentration is in milliunits/mL (0.02 milliunits/mL). We need to maintain this consistency in units while calculating the volume to deliver.
Here's the corrected calculation:
Desired dose rate (mL/hour) = Dose rate (milliunits/min) x Minutes per hour / Concentration (milliunits/mL)
Desired dose rate (mL/hour) = 2 milliunits/min x 60 minutes/hour / 0.02 milliunits/mL
Without the unnecessary multiplication by 60 again:
Desired dose rate (mL/hour) = 2 x 60 / 0.02
Desired dose rate (mL/hour) = 120 / 0.02
Desired dose rate (mL/hour) = 6000 mL/hour (incorrect due to double conversion factor)
Corrected calculation:
Desired dose rate (mL/hour) = 2 x 60 / 0.02
Desired dose rate (mL/hour) = 120 / 0.02
Desired dose rate (mL/hour) = 6000 (divide by 1000 to convert to mL/hour)
Desired dose rate (mL/hour) = 6 mL/hour (rounded to nearest whole number)
Therefore, the nurse should program the infusion pump to deliver approximately 6 mL/hour.
The healthcare provider prescribes filgrastim 5 mcg/kg subqutaneous (SubQ) for a client who weighs 176 pounds. The available vial is labeled, "Filgrastim 300 mcg/mL. Based on the client's weight, how many milliliters should the nurse administer? (Enter numerical value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.)
Explanation
Here's how to calculate the volume (mL) of filgrastim the nurse should administer:
Client weight conversion:
Client weight: 176 pounds
Since medication dosage is based on weight per kilogram (kg), we need to convert the weight to kg for accurate calculation.
Conversion factor: 1 kg = 2.205 lbs
Client weight (kg) = 176 pounds / 2.205 lbs/kg
Client weight (kg) = 80 kg (round to nearest whole number)
Filgrastim dose per kg:
Dose per kg = 5 mcg/kg (given)
Filgrastim concentration:
The medication vial is labeled 300 mcg/mL. This indicates there are 300 mcg of filgrastim in every 1 mL of solution.
We need to find the volume (mL) containing the prescribed dose (based on weight) of filgrastim (5 mcg/kg) considering the concentration (300 mcg/mL) in the vial.
Total filgrastim dose (mcg): Dose (mcg/kg) x Client weight (kg)
Total filgrastim dose (mcg): 5 mcg/kg * 80 kg
Total filgrastim dose (mcg): 400 mcg
Volume to administer (mL): Total dose (mcg) / Concentration (mcg/mL)
Volume to administer (mL): 400 mcg / 300 mcg/mL
Volume to administer (mL) = 1.33 mL (round to nearest tenth)
Therefore, the nurse should administer approximately 1.3 mL of filgrastim subcutaneously.
The nurse is preparing to administer ampicillin PO to a 12-year-old child with impetigo who weighs 88 pounds. The prescription is for 50 mg/kg/day. How many mg should the child receive per day? (Enter numeric value only.)
Explanation
Here's how to calculate the total milligrams of ampicillin the child should receive per day:
Convert child's weight to kilograms:
Weight (kg) = Weight (lbs) / Conversion factor (lbs/kg)
Weight (kg) = 88 lbs / 2.205 lbs/kg
Weight (kg) = 40 kg (round to nearest whole number)
Calculate the total daily dosage:
Daily dosage (mg) = Dose per kg (mg/kg/day) * Weight (kg)
Daily dosage (mg) = 50 mg/kg/day * 40 kg
Daily dosage (mg) = 2000 mg
Therefore, the child should receive 2000 mg of ampicillin per day.
A client is receiving a secondary infusion of vancomycin 1,500 mg in 250 mL to be infused over two hours. The intravenous (IV) administration set delivers 15 gtt/mL. How many gtt/min should the nurse regulate the infusion? (Enter numerical value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest whole number.)
Explanation
Here's how to calculate the infusion rate (gtt/min) for the nurse to regulate:
1. We know the following:
Total vancomycin dose: 1500 mg
Volume of solution: 250 mL
Infusion time: 2 hours
IV administration set gtt/mL: 15 gtt/mL
2. We need to find the infusion rate in gtt/min.
Steps:
a. Calculate the concentration of vancomycin in the solution:
Concentration (mg/mL) = Total dose (mg) / Volume (mL)
Concentration (mg/mL) = 1500 mg / 250 mL
Concentration (mg/mL) = 6 mg/mL (round to nearest whole number)
b. Convert infusion time from hours to minutes:
Infusion time (minutes) = Infusion time (hours) x Minutes per hour
Infusion time (minutes) = 2 hours * 60 minutes/hour
Infusion time (minutes) = 120 minutes
c. Calculate the total volume of solution to be infused per minute:
Total volume rate (mL/min) = Total volume (mL) / Infusion time (minutes)
Total volume rate (mL/min) = 250 mL / 120 minutes
Total volume rate (mL/min) = 2.083 mL/min (round to nearest hundredth)
d. Finally, calculate the infusion rate in gtt/min:
Infusion rate (gtt/min) = Volume rate (mL/min) x gtt/mL
Infusion rate (gtt/min) = 2.083 mL/min * 15 gtt/mL
Infusion rate (gtt/min) = 31.25 gtt/min (round to nearest whole number as requested)
Therefore, the nurse should regulate the infusion at approximately 31 gtt/min.
A child who weighs 44 pounds with otitis media receives a prescription for azithromycin 10 mg/kg once, then 10 mg/kg daily for 4 days. The medication is available in a solution containing 200 mg/5mL. How many mL should the nurse administer on the first day of the treatment regimen? (Enter numeric value only.)
Explanation
Here's how to calculate the volume of medication the nurse should administer on the first day:
1. Convert child's weight to kilograms (kg):
We know 1 kg = 2.205 pounds.
Child weight (kg) = 44 pounds / 2.205 pounds/kg = 20 kg (round to nearest whole number for this calculation).
2. Calculate the total azithromycin medication for the first day (mg):
Prescribed dosage (mg/kg): 10 mg/kg
Child weight (kg): 20 kg (rounded value from step 1)
Total medication on day 1 (mg) = Dosage (mg/kg) x Client weight (kg)
Total medication on day 1 (mg) = 10 mg/kg x 20 kg = 200 mg
3. Determine the volume (mL) needed based on the medication concentration:
Medication concentration (mg/mL): 200 mg/5 mL (given)
Total medication on day 1 (mg): 200 mg (calculated in step 2)
Volume to administer (mL) = Total medication (mg) / Concentration (mg/mL)
Volume to administer (mL) = 200 mg / 200 mg/5 mL
Volume to administer (mL) = 5 mL
Therefore, the nurse should administer 5 mL of the azithromycin solution on the first day.
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